Nahimiyaa 1

1 Dubbii Nahimiyaa ilma Hakaaliyaa: Waggaa digdammaffaatti jiʼa Kaaseluu jedhamu keessa utuu ani gamoo Suusaa keessa jiruu,

This is the account of Nehemiah, son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes' reign, I was in the fortress at Susa.

2 obboloota koo keessaa Hanaaniin namoota biraa wajjin Yihuudaadhaa dhufe; anis waaʼee hambaa Yihuudoota boojuu jalaa baʼanii fi waaʼee Yerusaalem isaan nan gaafadhe.

Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men. I asked them about the remnant of the Jewish exiles who had returned from captivity, and also about Jerusalem.

3 Isaanis akkana naan jedhan; “Warri boojuudhaa deebiʼanii kutaa biyyaa kana keessa jiraatan rakkinaa fi salphina guddaa keessa jiru. Dallaan Yerusaalem diigamee karraawwan ishees ibiddaan gubamaniiru.”

They told me, “The remnant who are left from the exile are there in the province, but they are having a great deal of trouble and feel humiliated. Jerusalem's walls have been knocked over, and its gates burned down.”

4 Anis waan kana dhageenyaan gad taaʼee booʼee guyyoota muraasaaf nan gadde; soomees fuula Waaqa samii durattin kadhadhe.

When I heard the news, I sat down, weeping and mourning for days, fasting and praying to the God of heaven.

5 Akkanas nan jedhe: “Yaa Waaqayyo Waaqa samii, Waaqa guddichaa fi sodaachisaa, kan warra si jaallatanii ajaja kee eeganiif kakuu jaalala keetii eegdu,

Then I prayed, “Please, Lord God of heaven—the great and awesome God who keeps his agreement of trustworthy love with those who love him and keep his commandments—

6 akka kadhannaa ani garbichi kee halkanii fi guyyaa fuula kee duratti waaʼee garboota kee saba Israaʼel kadhadhu dhageessuuf gurri kee haa banamu; iji kees haa ilaalu. Ani cubbuu nu Israaʼeloonni, ani mataan koo fi manni abbaa koo sitti hojjenne nan hima.

please listen and focus your attention on the prayer of your servant that I am praying to you now, day and night, on behalf of your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against you, including my own sins and those of my family.

7 Nu akka malee hammina sitti hojjenneerra. Nu ajaja, labsii fi seera ati garbicha kee Museetti kennite sana hin eegne.

We have done terrible things to offend you and we have not kept the commandments, laws, and regulations that you gave to your servant Moses.

8 “Qajeelfama garbicha kee Museetti kennite sana yaadadhu; innis akkana jedha; ‘Yoo isin amanamuu baattan ani saboota keessa isin nan bittinneessa;

Please remember what you told Moses when you said, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,

9 garuu yoo isin gara kootti deebitanii ajaja koo eegdan, yoo namoonni keessan kanneen boojiʼaman daarii lafaa jiraatan illee ani achii walitti isaanin qabee gara iddoo ani akka Maqaan koo achi jiraatuuf filadhe sanaatti isaan nan fida.’

but if you come back to me and follow my commandments and obey them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will gather them together and bring them to the place I have chosen where I will be honored.

10 “Isaan garboota kee fi saba kee warra ati humna kee guddaa fi harka kee jabaa sanaan furtee dha.

They are your servants and our people. You saved them by your great power and incredible ability.

11 Yaa Gooftaa, gurri kee kadhannaa garbicha kee kanaa fi kadhannaa garboota kee warra maqaa kee sodaachuutti gammadanii sirriitti haa dhagaʼu. Fuula namicha kanaa duratti surraa isaaf kennuudhaan harʼa garbicha kee milkeessi.” Ani nama mootichaaf daadhii buusun ture.

Lord, please respond to my prayer and to the prayers of those who love to worship you. Please let me be successful today and make the king sympathetic to me.” I was the king's cupbearer.